Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has called on his fellow Stockton MP to back the Council’s work to rejuvenate the High Street and stop carping about them.
The High Street, which is Alex’s constituency, has come under threat in recent years by the expansion of Teesside Park, based in Stockton South. The Council recently rejected further development there, a decision criticised by the Tory MP.
Alex said: “The Council is focussed on ensuring that we regenerate Stockton High Street and on making sure it is the hub of our town for future generations. No-one wants to see shops boarded up and our town centre run down.
For the neighbouring Tory MP to say that the Council should approve further development at Teesside Park which would undoubtedly have an adverse impact on the High Street is irresponsible and short-sighted.
Politicians should be working together to ensure that people of both the Stockton North and Stockton South constituencies have a vibrant and thriving High Street they can be proud of. I am disappointed that the MP for Stockton South is encouraging development at the expense of the town centre and attacking the Council which, after all, currently has a Tory leader.
I do not want to see any more soulless out of town developments which are harmful to our historic town centres. If we focus on regenerating the High Street, businesses will be drawn to invest in our town centre. Without that focus from local politicians there is no doubt the High Street will continue to go downhill.”